Homira Behbahani

Homira Behbahani

Affiliated to Research | Docent
Visiting address: Blickagången 16, 14152 Huddinge
Postal address: H1 Neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, H1 Klinisk geriatrik Eriksdotter, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • I am supervisor for a research group, which right now consists of one PhD
    student, and three master students. My research is focused on understanding
    the molecular mechanism behind Alzheimer Disease with focused on Omi/HtrA2
    protease and amyloid beta uptake, and focus on vascular smooth muscle cell
    degeneration and proliferation in CADASIL as well as small vessel diseases.
    In addition to supervising, I am as a researcher involved in teaching at both
    the masters, advanced and doctoral level. Furthermore, I am organizer for
    “PhD/PostDoc” and “Center for Alzheimer Research” seminar series at
    NVS. This role gives me a lot of input and reflections to my own leadership
    style and also I learn to know PhD students at KI, which is a benefit for my
    research career.
    I am representative for “Equal treatment” (Ombud for Lika Villkor) at NVS
    since 2011. Therefore, I am a member of department council and work
    environment council at NVS. This role also gives me the opportunity to be
    involved in many issues related to employees and PhD/PostDoc student’s
    welfare and activities.
    Virology price 2002 Recipient of scholarship and Chosen by Sven Gard
    Stiftelse for the best thesis in Virology area.
    Scholarships 2001 and 2006: Recipient of scholarships of Keystone Symposia
    and being invited speaker.
    2008 Recipient of one year postdoctoral fellowship from Loo and Hans
    Ostermans stiftelse.
    1987 Bsc in Graphic Design, Tehran University Tehran, Iran.
    1997 BSc in Biomedicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    2002 Ph.D in Experimental Medicine at Inst. of Medicine, Div. of Centre for
    infectious Medicine (CIM), at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Thesis title: Immune Dysregulation in HIV-1 Infected Lymphoid Tissue,
    Supervisors: Professor Anna-Lena Spetz (PhD, MD) and Professor Jan Andersson
    (MD, PhD)
    2011, April 26, Associates Professor in Neurobiology, NVS, KI
    2013 Project Leadership for Research Group Leader (PFL), invited by NVS
    institution
    2014 Leadership, higher Education for supervisor course at LIME, KI

Research

  • My research is focused on studying the degeneration and proliferation of
    vascular smooth muscle cells in CADASIL as well as small vessel diseases or
    stroke. We are also studying the toxicity of extracellular NOTCH3 and the
    role of autophagy or lysososmal function on intracellular aggregated NOTCH3.
    In my group we look specifically for finding biomarkers for CADASIL and will
    compared it to Alzheimer disease, stroke and vascular dementia diseases. Our
    aim is to provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of CADASIL which
    would improve the prognosis of CADASIL and patients with other cerebral small
    vessel diseases.
    Furthermore, I am investigating the role of Omi/HtrA2 protease, a
    multifunctional serine protease, in Alzheimer disease and the mechanisms
    behind amyloid beta uptake in human primary neurons.

Articles

All other publications

Employments

  • Affiliated to Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-2025

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska institutet, 2011
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2002

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